Photos by Judy Patrick is also active with the regional utilities on the new Railbelt Reliability Council, a group formed to coordinate improvements in power transmission that will allow for efficient transmission as more wind, solar and hydro power are developed. “There are quite a lot of federal dollars now available to help with this and it could be transformative in reducing the dependence on fossil fuels for power generation,” Kumar said. The high cost of power has now become a barrier for mining projects in Alaska. “As our company and other mining companies look at opportunities for growth, this (the cost of power) becomes a barrier. Having a high electricity price makes it challenging for more growth, and more production to be added,” at existing mines like Fort Knox. “Also, if the greenhouse gas emission factor is high, that becomes a concern as well,” Kumar said. John Lyons said ConocoPhillips is testing the performance of electric-powered light trucks at its North Slope operations. Pilot tests are under way to assess performance in cold winter temperatures. “So far we’re pleased,” Lyons said. “If we can reduce maintenance on vehicles such as with oil changes,” we’re pleased, he said. There’s also the benefit of reduces emissions. “However, operational safety is a high priority. We can’t have people stranded in a vehicle with no heat,” he said. — COMPILED BY TIM BRADNER www.AKRDC.org 29
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